This is a best value determination procurement of professional services to conduct a Program Evaluation of SEED Foundation’s Strengthening Assistance for Returnees and Survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (STARS) program managed by SEED Foundation, Erbil – Kurdistan – Charity Reg. # K2097 for the period of October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2018. In order to conform to the donor agency, the program evaluation service should end with the final report submitted to SEED President no later than December 5, 2018. Please see below scope of work for details and timeline.

Individuals and/or companies who wish to participate should indicate their interest of participation and adhere to the following time frame:

Submission of official email indicating their intention to participate by September 15, 2018 to the email provided: procurement@seedkurdistan.org and including any questions regarding the Request for Proposal document and submission guidelines. Phone calls will not be accepted.

A response to questions will be generated in an official letter issued by SEED Foundation to all bidders who express interest in participating in the process by September 17

Proposals are due by September 20 2018, 2:00 PM (GMT+2).

Individuals and/or companies who wish to participate, please submit your technical proposal and cost proposal. The cost proposal must be submitted as a separate attachment from the technical proposal.

Your proposal must include and will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

This RFP in no way obligates SEED Foundation to award a contract, nor does it commit SEED Foundation to pay any costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposal.

Sincerely,

President
Sherri Kraham Talabany

BACKGROUND

SEED Foundation (SEED) is a local NGO in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, whose mission is to protect, empower, and support the recovery of survivors of violence and others at risk. SEED is seeking a consultant to conduct an independent end of program evaluation of a U.S. Government funded grant program described below, to assess progress towards intended results and to evaluate the impact of the program. The evaluation should begin October 10, 2018 and to include at least one, one-week visit to the Kurdistan Region in late October.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

SEED Foundation is implementing the Strengthening Assistance for Returnees and Survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (STARS) Program (October 1, 2016 – September 30, 2018), designed to increase the availability of, and access to, quality mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services for the most vulnerable women and girls who have been impacted by the crisis in Iraq, with a focus on survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and those who have escaped ISIS captivity. The program has sought to:

1) Education, Training and Supervision: Improve the quality of MHPSS services provided by strengthening the skills of service providers through education, training, and supervision through strengthening the undergraduate clinical psychology program at Koya University by improving the curriculum and developing additional modules, as well as expanding the supervised practicum component, and by developing and delivering a Psychosocial Support Training Program for MHPSS practitioners.

2) Service Delivery: Improve access to quality MHPSS services for the most vulnerable women and girls through the establishment of critical care services, referrals, the provision of ongoing MHPSS services and awareness-raising activities.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Purpose of the Evaluation:

This evaluation is intended to assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of the program. The final evaluation also aims to document lessons learned and to make recommendations for strengthening future programming across SEED’s portfolio.

Evaluation Scope:

The end of program evaluation will assess the collective performance and implementation of all program activities, including those carried out by SEED’s sub-grantee within the 24 month period of the program. The evaluation will assess all aspects of the program including education, training, and supervision, and service provision to women and girls. The evaluation will be conducted in the three governorates of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) in which the program was implemented.

Evaluation Questions:

The evaluation will address the following key questions, which should be built upon by the consultant:

Relevance: To what extent did the program meet priority needs?

How did the STARS program’s scope and focus create the opportunities for SEED to contribute to 1) strengthening the skills of service providers through education, training, and supervision; and 2) making quality MHPSS services accessible to vulnerable women and girls?

How important is improving the quality of MHPSS services in the local context?

Efficiency: To what extent were the program’s objectives achieved economically, in terms of funds, time, and staffing?

Impact: In what ways did the program achieve its objectives?

What aspects of the program (PSS Training Program, Clinical Psychology Program reform, etc.) contributed to strengthening the skills of MHPSS service providers?

What are stakeholders reporting about the quality of MHPSS services in KRI?

What connection, if any, is there between the changes in the quality of services in the KRI and the access to quality MHPSS services in the KRI?

Has the program contributed to improving access access to quality MHPSS services specifically for the most vulnerable women and girls?

In what ways have women and girls have improved access to quality MHPSS services, if at all?

For women and girls who accessed the MHPSS services, how have they benefited?

Sustainability:

Are the changes in the quality of MHPSS services in KRI sustainable? If so, how?

Are the changes in access to quality MHPSS services in KRI sustainable? If so, how?

Evaluation Methodology:

The evaluation will be both transparent and participatory involving all relevant stakeholders, including SEED staff, implementing partners, clients, university students, PSS Training Program participants and others, as are deemed relevant. The evaluation methodology will use mixed methods, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data gathered in key informant interviews, focus group discussions, questionnaires and other methods to answer evaluation questions. The evaluator will submit an inception report outlining 1) proposed evaluation design; 2) its rationale; and, 3) data collection methods during the inception stage which must be approved by SEED prior to beginning data collection.

Timetable:

The evaluation process will have five stages:

Preparation: gathering and reviewing program data, conceptualizing the evaluation approach, and conducting internal consultations on the approach.

Inception: consultations between the evaluator and SEED’s team, stakeholder mapping, inception meetings, review of other program documentation, finalization of evaluation methodology, and inception report.

The evaluation will take place beginning October 10, 2018 and complete by December 5, 2018. The following timetable will guide the Consultant. Please note that there is no flexibility regarding timeline:

The inception report will include a plan for the evaluation design, construction of data collection instruments, plan for data collection and data analysis.

The inception report must be approved by SEED staff before beginning data collection.

Final Approved Inception Report: October 21, 2018

Submission of Draft Evaluation Report: November 22, 2018

The evaluation report will be clear, concise, empirically grounded and persuasive, no longer than 25 pages (not including annexes).

The report will include the following:

Executive summary

Program description, including context under which the program was implemented

Evaluation purpose and scope

Evaluation design and data collection methods

Data and findings

Conclusions

Lessons learned

Recommendations

Annexes

SOW

Data collection instruments

Other relevant documentation

Feedback from SEED will be provided by November 28, 2018

Final Evaluation Report: December 5, 2018

The final evaluation report will incorporate feedback and consideration from SEED staff on the first draft.

Additionally, the Consultant will be required to have calls with SEED staff to update on progress every two weeks throughout the duration of the contract. All deliverables will be submitted in English.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES, SKILLS, & EXPERIENCE

Core Values:

Integrity

Commitment to human rights and gender equality

Professionalism

Collaborative

Core Competencies:

Effective communication

Proactive approach to work

Creative problem solving

Transparent and accountable

Strong research skills

Strong understanding of capacity building programming

Good understanding of field of MHPSS

Education:

A master’s degree in social science, development, and/or related areas

Experience:

Five years of experience in implementing and evaluating development programs including MHPSS, GBV, and/or protection programs

A proven record of conducting evaluations using mixed methods and participatory approaches

A proven record of completing evaluations for large donors, preferably USG (at least two evaluations)

Experience working in the Middle East preferred

Language:

Fluency in oral and written English required; Arabic and/or Kurdish, a plus

LOGISTICAL SUPPORT PROVIDED

SEED will provide the following support to the consultant for the purpose of this evaluation:

Access to program data, documentation, and contact information for relevant stakeholders; and

Logistical support during field visit, including provision of local transportation, workspace, local accommodation, and translation/interpretation required.

REQUIREMENTS:

The consultant will be required to utilize his/her own technology equipment and maintain workable Skype and email accounts for communications.

The consultant, while in the Kurdistan Region, will be based at SEED headquarters in Erbil and expected to visit project locations in Dohuk, Koya, and Suliemaniyah.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Candidates should submit an application composed of:

1) Curriculum vitae;

2) Cover letter outlining how he/she meets the above requirements;

3) A brief proposal of 1 – 2 pages outlining proposed methodology;

4) Financial/cost proposal and other documents outlining proposed methodology in line with SOW.

5) Proposed completion schedule with adherence to the timeline above.

6) Candidates should have the ability to quickly submit two writing samples of evaluation reports.

Candidates will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis taking into account skills and financial proposal.